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In early 2025, INTERPOL launched a global cybercrime initiative known as Operation Secure. This large-scale operation aimed to disrupt cybercriminal infrastructure by targeting information-stealing malware, malicious IP addresses, and domains. By collaborating with a network of international partners, law enforcement agencies successfully dismantled a significant portion of cyber threats, leading to arrests, data seizures, and the identification of numerous victims.
Operation Secure: A Global Effort Against Cybercrime
Between January and April 2025, INTERPOL spearheaded Operation Secure, a coordinated effort to combat cybercrime on a global scale. This operation was designed to target the vast network of malicious IP addresses and domains that were linked to malware specifically designed to steal sensitive information from individuals and organizations.
Supporting this massive operation were 26 countries and several key cybersecurity organizations, including Group-IB, Kaspersky, and Trend Micro. These partnerships played an essential role in tracing cybercriminal servers, mapping the malicious networks, and carrying out strategic interventions that led to the dismantling of cybercriminal activities worldwide.
Global Participation and Efforts
The participating countries in Operation Secure included Brunei, Cambodia, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, and many others across Asia, the Pacific, and the Middle East. The combined resources and intelligence-sharing from these nations allowed for the identification of over 20,000 malicious IPs and domains that were being used to spread malware globally.
A significant achievement of the operation was the seizure of 41 servers and the collection of over 100 GB of critical data. These actions severely disrupted the cybercriminal networks responsible for phishing, fraud, and social media scams. In total, 79% of the identified threats were successfully neutralized, and 32 arrests were made. Additionally, more than 216,000 victims were alerted about potential security risks, empowering them to secure their accounts and prevent further unauthorized access to their personal and financial data.
Key Arrests and Operations Worldwide
One of the most notable outcomes of Operation Secure was the arrest of 18 suspects in Vietnam. These individuals were linked to a major scheme involving the sale of corporate account credentials. In Sri Lanka and Nauru, coordinated raids led to the arrest of 14 suspects and the identification of 40 victims. Hong Kong Police also played a crucial role in the investigation, analyzing over 1,700 intelligence items from INTERPOL. This investigation uncovered 117 command-and-control servers used to run phishing operations and defraud users across various platforms.
What Undercode Says:
INTERPOL’s Operation Secure is a significant step in the ongoing battle against cybercrime. By removing thousands of malicious IPs and domains linked to information-stealing malware, the operation has demonstrated the effectiveness of international collaboration in combating global cyber threats. This operation is a reminder of the growing sophistication of cybercriminals and the need for constant vigilance and proactive action from law enforcement agencies, cybersecurity companies, and governments worldwide.
The scale of this operation shows how crucial it is for nations to work together, sharing intelligence and resources, to prevent large-scale harm to both individuals and businesses. The success of Operation Secure is also a clear message to cybercriminals that their activities are being closely monitored and will not go unpunished.
Fact Checker Results ✅❌
✅ Accurate: INTERPOL did indeed lead a global cybercrime operation targeting information-stealing malware, taking down over 20,000 malicious IPs and domains.
✅ Verified: Over 100 GB of data was collected, and 32 arrests were made during the operation.
❌ Misinformation: While the operation successfully seized data and disrupted cybercriminal networks, the claim that 79% of all identified threats were neutralized is based on an estimate, not a definitive metric.
Prediction 🔮
Given the success of Operation Secure, we can expect similar large-scale operations in the future as cybercriminal activities continue to evolve. These operations will likely become more frequent and sophisticated, leveraging even more advanced technology and international cooperation. As cyber threats increase in scale and complexity, law enforcement agencies and cybersecurity firms must adapt quickly, continually enhancing their ability to trace, disrupt, and neutralize malicious actors across the globe. Moreover, this operation might lead to the implementation of stricter global cybersecurity policies and regulations to prevent such attacks from happening in the first place.
References:
Reported By: securityaffairs.com
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